by the great joy and honour that God had bestowed upon him that day, and I don't believe I’ve ever heard tell of such happiness as he showed then. The king looked up at him and said:

‘Eat, my friend, and may God who was crucified for our sins grant you honour and pardon all your sins.’

Perceval sat down to eat beside the king who loved him dearly. I shan't describe the meal precisely, but no kings or dukes or counts were ever so finely served. Perceval, who had deserved the rejoicing and celebration that were heaped upon him, stayed with his head bowed. What should I say? At complete leisure they had all the food and wine they could have wished for; no prophet or divine ever drank the like.

Just as they were about to rise from dinner, there passed before the royal table the lance and the Grail, and a beautiful silver trencher, most splendid and handsome, which was carried by a girl most elegantly. When they had passed the tables, so sumptuously laden, they carried straight on into the chamber from which they had come. Perceval, observing this, sighed, and looked at the king and said at once:

‘My good, dear lord, tell me freely now what you promised me before dinner.’

‘Listen, friend,’ the king replied, ‘and come close to me, and I’ll tell you, word for word and without omission, whatever you wish to ask me, exactly as you command.’

‘Good, dear sir,’ said Perceval, ‘let me not be deceived about the lance and the Holy Grail and the trencher that I’ve seen: if you will, tell me first who is served from them, and where they come from; and as for the girls who carry them, who passed by just now, I don't think they’re poor women of low birth! I’m sure they’re of high lineage.’

‘Dear friend,’ replied the king, ‘you’ll not be angry on my account, have no fear. I’ll tell you first about the lance. I promise you, without a word of a lie, and I know it to be true, that it is the holy lance of which the Scriptures tell, with which Longinus struck Jesus Christ when He was stretched on the cross where the Jews had hung Him.